Northwestern’s Feminist-in-Residence Kyrin Hobson has dedicated her academic year to an art project focused on Black maternal health and health equity. Titled “From a Black Womb,” the project expands on her previous research in Louisiana, where she interviewed family members about midwifery and herbalism. Hobson’s project at Northwestern involved interviews with students, faculty, and staff, which she then translated into visual form using kinesthetic empathy.
This process involves mirroring and mark-making on paper based on the gestures of the interviewees, using recyclable, waterproof paper for the mixed media paintings. The resulting paintings are described as intimate interior landscapes that reflect how individuals perceive their bodies and their experiences, whether related to childbirth, gynecological health, or decisions about having children. Each painting tells a survival story, providing a deeply human perspective that goes beyond statistical data.
Hobson aims to raise awareness and potentially influence policy change on health inequities by sharing stories of Black individuals surviving health challenges like preeclampsia, preterm labor, and uterine disorders through her art project. She will offer a preview of the project at the Women’s Center Garden Party on May 30 and host a final project presentation and reception on June 4. The project itself will feature a dozen paintings and textual collages crafted from interview transcripts, with plans to collaborate with moving image artist Ireashia Bennett on an immersive interactive digital platform. To learn more about Northwestern’s Feminist-in-Residence and the “From a Black Womb” project, visit the project’s website or the Women’s Center.